Activity Update August 2016: Pench Madhya Pradesh

Highlights:

Aamajhari - Village children plant saplings

Khamba - Villagers dig compost pit

Kundai - Field assistant Kamlesh Pawar speaks
about nature and wildlife to students on a nature trail 

Teliya - Field assistant Niranjan Hinge conducts
environment education programme at the Government Middle School

Tuyepani - Field assistant Kamlesh Pawar speaks to villagers
about protecting snakes on the occasion of Nag Panchami

Team: Mandar Pingle – Conservation Officer

            Niranjan Hinge, Kamlesh Pawar – Field Assistants

 

Highlights

• Celebrated festival of Nag Panchami in Tuyepani – 70 villagers participated in the celebration
• Two compost pits prepared through voluntary work project at Khamba and Doodhgaon
• Organized anti plastic drive programme and rally with conservation message in Ambadi
• Organized an anti-plastic programme in Kundai
• Organized rally with conservation message on  Independence  Day at Tuyepani
• 7 nature trails for school children of Turia, Satosha, Ambadi, Doodhgaon, Mohgaon, Kundai and Tuyepani  villages – attended by 76 students
• 100 saplings planted during plantation programs at  Aamajhari, Turia, Tuyepani – 16 villagers volunteered
• 21 environment education lectures – attended by 493 students
• 6  medical camps at which 140  patients were treated

Conservation

On August 7, our field assistant Kamlesh Pawar celebrated the festival of Nag Panchami along with 70 villagers of Tuyepani. In India, snakes are considered by many people to be divine and Nag Panchami is celebrated as a mark of respect to the reptile deities.

However, people who pray to the snakes will not hesitate to kill one in case of any confrontation. In villages of the buffer area of Pench Tiger Reserve, one often comes across many snakes during the monsoon season. Villagers kill these snakes out of fear and ignorance. Kamlesh organized a programme to celebrate the festival and to promote awareness about the importance of protecting snakes. Kamlesh explained to the villagers that snakes are a crucial part of the ecosystem and we need to protect them. He told people about the various venomous species and non-venomous species of snakes found in this region. Kamlesh also informed people about snake-bite management. He explained the correct ways to provide first-aid to a snake-bite patient.

The villagers were happy with the programme and have agreed to try and avoid killing snakes in the future.

Niranjan organized similar programmes in Khamrith and Potiya villages on August 8 and August 9 

respectively. 

On August 24, Niranjan led 9 villagers of Aamajhari village in a programme to prepare a compost pit. The villagers volunteered after Niranjan explained to them that they will be able to make use of the organic compost produced in their farms free of cost. Niranjan also explained to the villagers the proper procedure to prepare eco-friendly organic compost using degradable house and farm waste.

In August, a total of 7 nature trails was organized by Kamlesh and Niranjan for the children of Turia, Satosha, Ambadi, Doodhgaon, Mohgaon, Kundai and Tuyepani villages. On the trails, our staff spoke to the children about the various plants and common medicinal uses of those plants. They also spotted and identified local birds and explained their role in nature.

Kamlesh Pawar and Niranjan Hinge organized plantation drive programs in villages of buffer area of Priyadarshini Pench Tiger Reserve during August. More than 100 saplings of local tree species like amla, tamarind, mahua, neem etc were planted with the help of villagers, students and teachers in Tuyepani, Turia and Aamajhari villages. The trees were planted on school, anganwadi and Gram Panchayat campuses. Saplings were also planted along the roads and in farms.

Environmental Education Programme

There 16 environment education programmes in classrooms during July. 

       

Employment Cell  

On Aug 11, Employment Cell Officer Ajay Poddar and Conservation Officer Mandar Pingle along with field assistant Niranjan Hinge organized a meeting at Turia with candidates who had asked us to organize a programme to train them in driving 4-wheelers. Ajay informed the candidates about the details of the training programme while Mandar and Niranjan helped identify candidates. A number of women have enrolled for the training program.

Education Van Programme

No film shows were organized during the month of August.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

We held 6 medical camps in July, in which 128 patients were treated.